RFK Jr. Fighting with Medicare, Medicaid Basics in Senate Hearings

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US President Trump’s nominees to be secretary of health and human services, testify to a committee for health, education, labor and pensions (help). 2025.

Nathan Howard | Reuters

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s election to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, seemed to be unknown with basic elements of the Medicare and Medicaid programs on Thursday during his second Senate Confirmation hearing.

“You want us to confirm that you need to be responsible for Medicare, but it seems you don’t know the basics of this program,” said Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire after Kennedy struggled to Answer a number of questions about Medicare for the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

If confirmed, Kennedy will lead an agency of $ 1.7 trillion that oversees a number of federal health agencies. It includes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which manages state -funded health care for millions of Americans, including seniors, disabled people and patients with lower income dependent on Medicare, Medicaid and AFFORDABLE CARE ACT’s markets.

Kennedy, 71, stumbled as he answered questions about Medicare and Medicaid during both his confirmation hearings this week. He showed up for the Senate Committee for Funding Wednesday.

Hassan, sitting on both panels, asked Kennedy on Thursday to explain what each part of Medicare is. But he struggled to identify and explain the basic aspects of the program that cover the elderly and disabled Americans.

When asked what Medicare Part A is for, Kennedy said it is “mainly for primary care or doctors.” Hassan clarified that it is cover for seniors who receive outpatient care in hospitals.

Kennedy, when asked what Medicare Part B is, said it’s “for doctors and doctors.” Part B is coverage for a variety of medical services such as medical visits, outpatient care, home health, certain medical supplies and preventive services.

When asked what Medicare Part C is for, Kennedy called it “The Full Menu for All Services – A, B, C and D.” Hassan noted that Del C is also known as Medicare Advantage, which is privately run plans that are contracted by Medicare. These plans serve as an alternative to traditional Medicare plans.

Kennedy insisted that he “just explained the basics” of the program, but Hassan said she had to fix him on several things.

The New Hampshire senator also grilled Kennedy on his comments during the hearing Wednesday when he seemed to confuse Medicare with Medicaid.

The State Federal Medicaid program provides coverage to about 80 million AmericansIncluding many people with low income. Republicans could target Medicaid, which costs the federal government more than $ 600 billion a year for financing reductions this year to help pay for tax cuts.

Kennedy described Medicaid on Wednesday as “fully paid for” by the federal government, although the program is also financed by states.

On Thursday, Kennedy acknowledged that the program is jointly funded by the federal government and states, adding that he “mistakenly something” during the consultation on Wednesday.

At the end of this Wednesday, Senator Ron Wyden, D-Or., The Ranking member of the Financial Committee, Kennedy, heard “unprepared” and suggested he did not appear to know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.

“My colleagues have looked back and forth between Medicare and Medicaid, and it’s not clear which program you are using when,” Wyden said.